Biographies
HARRY C. MUDDOX
HARRY C. MUDDOX.--A study of the lives of the men who have been leaders in
the development of Sacramento City and County discloses no name more worthy of
honorable mention than that of Harry C. Muddox,
banker, manufacturer, financier, rancher and breeder of fine stock, in all of
which he has made an outstanding success. Arriving here with his parents
when a child scarcely six years of age, he has witnessed the steadfast
development of the community, has felt the impetus of Western progress and has
been an important factor in various lines of endeavor. Many movements
inseparable from the history of the capital city have been promoted by his
indefatigable earnestness and no measure of importance to the general welfare
has failed of his support. An
honorable lineage indicates the identification of the Muddox
family with England during past generations. In the year 1862, George and
Isabelle (Bundock) Muddox,
who had been born, reared and married in the city of London, crossed the ocean
in a sailing vessel to the United States and settled in Illinois, where Harry
C. was born at Alton, August 26, 1866, the eldest of seven children: the others
being Harriet Alice, Emma May, George L., Ralph H.; Isabelle E., and Flora M.
Here the father learned the trade of potter and becoming an American citizen
soon after his arrival here, he enlisted in the Civil
War, but did not see active service. Determined to seek a home in the far West,
they crossed on one of the early immigrant trains that required fourteen days
to make the journey, arriving at Sacramento on May 4, 1872. In 1878 George Muddox started a small clay pottery plant on K and
Thirtieth Streets, making jugs, jars and churns by hand; ten years later he
began the manufacture of sewer pipe, using horsepower. He passed away in 1899
highly esteemed by all who knew him, survived by his widow until May 28, 1921;
a loyal and devoted citizen of his adopted country, he was a charter member of
the British Benevolent Society of Sacramento and a member of the Foresters.
Harry C. Muddox
attended the public schools of Sacramento and the Atkinson Business College in
pursuit of an education and then started with his father in the pottery
business. Upon the death of the latter he purchased the sewer pipe plant from
the heirs of the estate, becoming sole owner. From the time of taking over the
plant he began to make extensive improvements. The work of rebuilding
necessitated much expense and consumed much time, but the plant now ranks as
one of the largest and most complete works on the Coast. This remarkable
development may well be attributed to the sagacious management of Mr. H. C. Muddox, who having entered the pottery in early life and
learned the business in all its details, has been able to utilize his thorough
knowledge for the permanent upbuilding of the
business. Their product is sold from Portland, Ore., to Los Angeles and to
Reno, Nev.; they employ no salesmen, their pipe being sold entirely on its
merits. He competes with other plants of the kind in Portland, Ore., and
does a large business in that city, as he deals in clay products made from pure
potters' clay.
The management of this plant by no means
represents the limit of the business activities of Mr. H. C. Muddox, for he ranks among the leading financiers of
Sacramento County. He is president and owns a controlling interest in the
Citizens Bank of Sacramento, is a director and large stockholder in the Capital
National Bank of Sacramento, owns a controlling interest in the Geo. W. Prising Company of San Francisco, is a director of the
Capital Fire Insurance Company of California, and also of the Sacramento Hotel
Company, and owns the Muddox block at Oak Park and
the Oak Crest Dairy at Sheldon. On his country place, six miles south of
Sacramento, Meadow View Stock Farm, he breeds fine draft horses, short-horn
cattle and Berkshire hogs, and he is the owner of some of the finest registered
stock in California.
At Vacaville, Cal., August 26, 1893, Mr.
H. C. Muddox was married to Miss Jessie E. Long, a
native daughter of that city, and they have three children: Mrs. Ruth F. Doud of San Francisco, Forest C. and Isabelle Elizabeth.
Mr. Muddox is the oldest living past president of the
Sons of St. George, at Sacramento, and is a charter member of the Fraternal
Order of Eagles, and one of its organizers. He is a member of the Chamber of
Commerce. A truly progressive citizen, he has ever maintained a deep interest
in civic affairs that has won for him the confidence and esteem of the whole
community.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 286-287. Historic Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.